Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-01-19

| yOu Liuob llob iuSc yOui way
accompanied her to the house, striving 10
| dispel her dismal forebodings. But she only
shook her head thoughtfuny. At her door
she turned Good night and au revoir," she
said, locking mouinfully at me; and / took
my leave, strangely affected by her mood.
The day breaks dull and tempestuous Dars
clouds are scudding athwart the sky. On tn,
sea the storm RACES in uncertain gusts. The
waters rise up and lash themselves in fury
and long foam-creSted chains of mountain
pillows hurl with mighty crash against the
rock bound coast The island seems to
tremble to its very foundations "God pro
tect our Mariners is the thought of every
islander. Ny room in Mardier's commands q
view of both sea and town. The latter is q
small place built upon the strand The
streets are deserted Is the rain descends in
torrents
The storm increases to q hurricane. In the
harbor scamews Jew hitler and thithcr ut
tering discordant cries which are drowned in
the roar of tfs tempest and the thunder of
the waves
So pass morning and afternoon. The hun.
ricane still RACES with undated vehemence
The lantern is already alight in the neighbor
ing lighthouse at Hammerherg. Several fish
ermen are busy i'll the harbor trying TO make
their boats, which are dancing about like
nutshells, more secure from risk OR injury.
But bark! A duh, brief report resounds
above the din of the tempest and the turmoil
of the waters This is no thunder of the
waves: it is a cannon shot We hear it once,
more, and then repeated at shorter intervals.
Men congregate at the harbor's mouth, and a
large telescope is procured But no ship is
yet visible; the horizon is too circumscribed.
Thus half an hour passes away. An Allinge
is on the alert People unite in groups to dis
cuss the plight of the devoted vessel find
myself attached 10 one Of these knots. Now
it may be about o'clock something black
becomes visible against the background of
Hammerberg. 1t draws nearer and becomes
plainer-we distinguish ship.
A sudden fash, quickly followed by re-
port. gives renewed intimation that the YES
sci is in distress. But who can render any
aida The coast is precipitous and wild, I'M
even crags jut out far into the ocean The
sea is so rough that no boat could live in it.
The danger becomes more and more inmi-
nent. The craft, brig already berefr of its
mainmast, must strike 1t is hopelessly lost
In the excitement of the awful moment
had been unconscious as to my immediate
surroundings Suddenly, quite close to me,
heard cry full of despair, soul stirring
wall
1t was Gudrun, who stood wringing her
hands, her fallen treSses prey to the blast
THE Nautlus-Gunnar!7 she cried in her
anguish. Save him-my lover
The doomed ship was none other than that
which bore her betrothed homeward Men
ran to and fro with confused cries, but no one
ventured to the rescue 1t would only be
tempting Providence" declared a venerable
sailor, and he added, uHcovoring his head in
all reverence: 1.-THE Lord of heaven and eartt
deliver them All the bystanders followe!
bis example and united in the PRAYER
Gudrun rushed from group to group, i'm
ploring, supphcating, wringing her hands
but nobody ventured 10 court certain death.
Suddenly Capt. Torstensen, her father, ap-
peared upon the scene, wearing "souwes-
ter and long sea boots.
"Who Will come with me-" he asked in a
clear, resonant voice lie met with no re-
Spouse. Some attempted TO persuade him
from his enterprise, even rcsorting 10 force
The most experienced sailors regarded it as
madness to attempt to navigate in such sea-
Then | shall try it alone" he declared,
hurrying toward his boat Two Young men
followed him, at iiTst doubtfully: then, ad-
jured by Gudrun, determined to join him in
the desperate venture
A rush was made for the landing where the
boats were lying Torstensen could scarce
stand upright in his boat, but for all that he
east oil the painter And now, Just as the
men were in the act OF pushing off, Gudrun
leaped into the boat. y cry of terror use
from hundred Threats Many women were
weeping The boat heelcl over, and the oars
men were evidently striving to put back with
Gudrun. a receding wave, however, carried
the boat rapidly out of the harbor.
The crowd stood breathleSs. not a word
was spoken. All eyes were conferred on the
boat, which appeared on the lofty summit of
a wave, only to disappear next moment in
the trough Of the sea. Gudruns fair locks
were floating in the wind Ike a cloud fieck.
The minute guns had long ,eased to echo from
the brig.
Darkness set in and they had not returned
Nothing further was seen Of the ship Night
fell. The storm ragged on, the waves still
battled fiercely, and ont Wonder those who
were meeting their doom drew their last
breath unheam
Unheard! No There * one who listens
and hears.
The people Of Allinge passed a sleepless
night. As for me, ponderel over Gudrun's
words Of the previous day: DO YOU hearl
Oh, know shall die sooni'
Once more day dawued, but the morning
was bright and sunny. The storm had sub
sided Men were searching the shore. All
that remained Of the brig was a shattered
wreck wedged in between the rocks. Here
and there body was lying drowned on the
beach. Gudrpn's father Jay among these
dead. And about mile ast of Allinge, on
projecting rock, two lifeless forms were re-
Ginning locked in each others arms-a maiden
Of passing loneliness and c stalwart, hand
some youth. They wcrc G1drun, the clair.
yoyant, and Gunnar, the Hero and Leander
of BOruholm The Ar-1sy